We are teaching Blueberry sign language through the Baby Signs program. In order to do this we have to learn the signs too. We are trying to learn one a day to get our vocabulary up. Today's sign is All Done. You bring your hands together with palms down and brush them away from each other like you are clearing off the table. Click the link to see a video of this sign.
When you speak to a baby in sign language you also say the word. Signing helps language development and reduces frustration in babies because they are able to express their needs. Please join us in the Baby Sign of the Day.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Four Wonderful Years
Life rarely plays out the way you planned it, but we really couldn't be happier. In the last year David graduated with his Bachelor's degree and we had our first baby. The degree hasn't produced an awesome new job yet, but I have faith that the Lord is preparing one for David. As for our little Blueberry, she has changed our lives in more ways than we could count, and we wouldn't have it any other way. She blesses us every day without even trying.
We are in a holding pattern right now, waiting for David to find a new job. We feel blessed that he has a job, but he is not using his degree yet. We are in a position to be fairly flexible when he does find one. Hopefully the economy will improve soon. Still, life does not stop and we take one day at a time, making the most of it and cherishing every minute we have together.
It is a time in our lives that we have realized that what matters most is being together and that home is where family is. We can make a home anywhere as long as we are together. Who knows where the next year will take us. It will be exciting to find out.
We are in a holding pattern right now, waiting for David to find a new job. We feel blessed that he has a job, but he is not using his degree yet. We are in a position to be fairly flexible when he does find one. Hopefully the economy will improve soon. Still, life does not stop and we take one day at a time, making the most of it and cherishing every minute we have together.
It is a time in our lives that we have realized that what matters most is being together and that home is where family is. We can make a home anywhere as long as we are together. Who knows where the next year will take us. It will be exciting to find out.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Blueberry
No, we did not name our daughter "Blueberry". Auntie Tiff nicknamed her "Blueberry Muffin" because of her big blue eyes and we decided we liked it. I'm not a big fan of nicknames, but I do call my husband "honey" and my daughter by many affectionate names, so for the purpose of privacy, she will be hereafter called Blueberry in this blog.
She is nearly seven months old now and she is such a joy in our lives. She greets us every morning with a big smile. Our lives are pretty routine so she knows what to expect throughout the day. She likes standing supported on our laps and being carried around as we do different things around the house. She likes to play with the water from the sprayer when I water the garden and ringing the bell on the front porch. She doesn't care for being on her belly, but will tolerate it when we distract her with a toy.
Blueberry is very good at holding things and will pass toys between her hands and turn them around to look at all sides. She can feed herself teething crackers and likes the munchkin feeders, which we can stuff with all kinds of things. She is eating 3 meals a day of "solids". She is a big fan of peas, yogurt, pears, apples, bananas and prunes. I think she is starting to understand that these things fill her tummy and doesn't fuss to be nursed if we are feeding her solids when she is hungry. She is a light sleeper during the day, but she sleeps 6-8 consecutive hours at night, wakes up to nurse and then returns to sleep for a total of about 10 hours.
She is very attached to Mommy these days. She doesn't like to be away from me. She doesn't like to be held by anyone who is not in her daily life, but I am sure that will change soon, as she becomes more independent. We have a pretty quiet home life, so big family gatherings with lots of loud people make her more clingy, but she is fine as long as I am holding her.
We are starting to teach her Baby Signs and she understands many spoken words. Our pediatrician's nurse commented that she could tell we spoke to her a lot, and we have, since she was born. She babbles in a rhythmic cadence very similar to our speech. She says "Da", "Ga", "Ba", "Wa", "Ma" and will often repeat the same sound several times. She understands "I'm going to change your diaper" and "are you hungry", among other things. She also is starting to sign for "up" when she wants to be picked up.
Right now we are trying to teach her "more", "all done" and "hungry".
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
New Family Members
Our family has doubled in the last month... we have two new members... of the four-legged variety. We adopted Harlie and Kaci from a family who was moving and could not take them along. They are two female, faun Boxers. They are a lively and fun pair. Both are very affectionate as well as well-mannered.
We live very close to a dog park and we go there so often that the "girls" must think it is an extention of their yard. They love going there and meeting new friends.
Last week we were on vacation, so we took them to Whistler's Bend Park and the Oregon Coast. They love to explore with us and impressed us with being so obedient to "leave it" when they saw a rabbit. They learn very quickly and are eager to please.
Playing Frisbee in our yard with David
Hiking at the Heceta Head Lighthouse Trail on the Oregon Coast
Hanging out in Downtown Roseburg... Being very patient as we had dinner at McMinamin's
We live very close to a dog park and we go there so often that the "girls" must think it is an extention of their yard. They love going there and meeting new friends.
Last week we were on vacation, so we took them to Whistler's Bend Park and the Oregon Coast. They love to explore with us and impressed us with being so obedient to "leave it" when they saw a rabbit. They learn very quickly and are eager to please.
Playing Frisbee in our yard with David
Hiking at the Heceta Head Lighthouse Trail on the Oregon Coast
Hanging out in Downtown Roseburg... Being very patient as we had dinner at McMinamin's
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Keeping Busy
I have been given a new opportunity to learn how to teach yoga. It is a progam they are doing at my gym and I am one of eight people selected. I am excited for this three-month program to start. I might have my own class as early as June.
In the meantime I have started teaching Bellydance, which inspired the launch of my bellydance blog. I have been teaching and performing again. This time I am doing it on my own terms. I am very focused and inspired. I have some new students and some returning students in the all-levels class I teach at the gym. I might also start teaching an intermediate class at another location every other week. I just have to see what the draw is.
David had spring break last week and took advantage of the time to relax, catch up on some house maintenance and even put his name out there for some IT jobs. There aren't a lot of places hiring right now, but he won't be done until December with his Networking degree, so mostly he is just scouting it all out. He has gotten some positive feedback which is encouraging. I think everyone is just waiting to see what happens with the economy. We would really like to stay in this area but we are open to moving if we have to. David's degree is an investment in our future and we will go where that leads.
The weather hasn't really allowed us to do much work on the outside of the house, but the garden is starting to wake up from the winter slumber. We look forward to doing some work out there on the next sunny weekend.
We had a great visit with our friends, the Millers. They were in town visiting their families and we were blessed to be albe to spend time with them. (I really need to start remembering to take pictures!)
My brother is in boot camp right now and we have been sending him letters. It is a hard time for him because of the intense training and having to be away from his pregnant wife and step-daughter. They eagerly await his return and we offer them as much support as we can. They could use your prayers to get through this tough time, if you are so inclined.
In the meantime I have started teaching Bellydance, which inspired the launch of my bellydance blog. I have been teaching and performing again. This time I am doing it on my own terms. I am very focused and inspired. I have some new students and some returning students in the all-levels class I teach at the gym. I might also start teaching an intermediate class at another location every other week. I just have to see what the draw is.
David had spring break last week and took advantage of the time to relax, catch up on some house maintenance and even put his name out there for some IT jobs. There aren't a lot of places hiring right now, but he won't be done until December with his Networking degree, so mostly he is just scouting it all out. He has gotten some positive feedback which is encouraging. I think everyone is just waiting to see what happens with the economy. We would really like to stay in this area but we are open to moving if we have to. David's degree is an investment in our future and we will go where that leads.
The weather hasn't really allowed us to do much work on the outside of the house, but the garden is starting to wake up from the winter slumber. We look forward to doing some work out there on the next sunny weekend.
We had a great visit with our friends, the Millers. They were in town visiting their families and we were blessed to be albe to spend time with them. (I really need to start remembering to take pictures!)
My brother is in boot camp right now and we have been sending him letters. It is a hard time for him because of the intense training and having to be away from his pregnant wife and step-daughter. They eagerly await his return and we offer them as much support as we can. They could use your prayers to get through this tough time, if you are so inclined.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Keeping Up
The holidays were a busy time and here it is already February. Where has the time gone???
David is quite busy studying and working. He will be done with his Bachelor's Degree by the end of this year. We are very excited for him to start in his new chosen career. The best part is that David is really enjoying the material now that he is learning things that pertain to his specialization. I love to see him excited about what he is learning.
I have a new opportunity to teach at our local gym. I will be teaching bellydance lessons again, as well as learning to teach yoga with one of the other instructors. I am very excited about the doors that are opening up there. They said if I got my nutritionist certification that they would hire me. In addition I am already scheduled to compete at the Bellydancer USA in Canyonville, OR. I will be competing in the "7 Veils" category. I'm excited to start competing again. Wish me luck!
It looks like this will be a fast-paced year of transitions. I'll try to keep up with blogging our progress.
David is quite busy studying and working. He will be done with his Bachelor's Degree by the end of this year. We are very excited for him to start in his new chosen career. The best part is that David is really enjoying the material now that he is learning things that pertain to his specialization. I love to see him excited about what he is learning.
I have a new opportunity to teach at our local gym. I will be teaching bellydance lessons again, as well as learning to teach yoga with one of the other instructors. I am very excited about the doors that are opening up there. They said if I got my nutritionist certification that they would hire me. In addition I am already scheduled to compete at the Bellydancer USA in Canyonville, OR. I will be competing in the "7 Veils" category. I'm excited to start competing again. Wish me luck!
It looks like this will be a fast-paced year of transitions. I'll try to keep up with blogging our progress.
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